hazards: numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional
violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other
tropical storms

Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water
pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage

Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol

Geography - note: no natural harbors on west coast

Guatemala People

Population: 12,974,361 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 42.11% (male 2,789,189; female 2,674,747)

15-64 years: 54.25% (male 3,518,209; female 3,519,851)

65 years and over: 3.64% (male 220,640; female 251,725) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.6% (2001 est.)

Birth rate: 34.61 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate: 6.79 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female

total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 45.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.51 years

male: 63.85 years

female: 69.31 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.58 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.38% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 73,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 3,600 (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Guatemalan(s)

adjective: Guatemalan

Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish or assimilated
Amerindian - in local Spanish called Ladino), approximately 55%,
Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian, approximately 43%, whites
and others 2%

Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs

Languages: Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (more than 20
Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam,
Garifuna, and Xinca)

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 63.6%

male: 68.7%

female: 58.5% (2000 est.)

Guatemala Government

Country name: conventional